Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-16
MEXICAN LETTER.
Notes of a Texan from tho Land of tho
Cactus,

Notes of n Texan from tho Land of tho
Cactus,
Correspondence of the Gazette.
VILE DEL LERDo, MEXICO, June 10
Excepting the Central Mexicano Railway
and modern soap factory there is moth
ing in Lerdo or the surrounding country
that bears the mark of the Nineteenth
century, or, in fact, anything that will
connect the mass of the people or their
Installations with the last three or four
centuries of the worlds progressive his
tory. The lower class are quiet, iguo-
rant, inoffensive people, apparently as
contented with their meager subsistence
as the donkeys and oxen that they use to
help them move the products and supplies
of their country. Their costumes bear q
striking resemblance to the illustrations
one sees in ancient history, especially the
Inhabitants of warm climates. A broad
brim hat, blanket thrown carelessly over
the shoulders, white shirt and trousers
of coarse material, scarf wrapped
around the waist and sandals for the feet,
Is very elaborate wardrobe for male,
and on week days is an exception to the
rule; and, it is not so rare sight as TO
be made the subject Of comment to see a
laborer dressed like an acrobat, excepting
the tights. The females wear shawl
wrapped around the head and neck in q
manner to cover the forehead and lower
part OF the face, leaving only the eyes,
mouth and nose exposed TO view, some
what after the manner of the Persian
women. Their dress proper is of cotton,
either calico or plain, cut after no partic-
ular fashion and arranged without
either taste or effect Their shoes,
when they wear them, are the only
part Of their wearing material approach
ing modern society demands, being of the
high-heel fashion. Like the males, the
females can often be seen at work around
their huts in undress uniforms, consisting
of red petticoat and chemise showing
above the waist.
The middle and upper classes are in |
telligent and dress according to their
means, and are more inclined to follow
the modern fashions in their costumes.
Ali freight destined to points of the
line of railways is carried overland upon
the backs of donkeys, or upon large two
wheeled wagons fashioned after the style |
of four centuries ago, many. of them |
built without 3 single piece OF iron being |
used in their construction; the wheels |
beng almost as clumsy as the rollers |
used by farmers to crush the ClOds in /
their plowed fields. To these uDgainlY /
vehicles are attached oxen or mules. If .
oxen, the Jokes are strapped to their /
horns with rawhide thongs; if mules they .
are hitched up from four to eight abreast (
in the lead, then taper back to one or two |
in the shafts, according to the size of the |
wagon. The drivers of the oxen use 8 |
long pole with O sharp iron in the end 10 |
prod them instead OF g. whip.
The houses are all one story adobe with |
dirt tops, very cool and pleasant ab0des |
in the summer and warm in the winter.
The climate in this section is delight |
full. The country is high rolling valley |
running north and south along range of |
the Sierra Madre mountains, where the |
rain clouds are seen every evening this |
time of the year, swelling the mountain !
streams with water that feed the irfigat-
ing bitches of the farmers.
Respectable Americans, who attend to |
their own business, find q hearty well
come, and are encouraged and protected |
in their enterprises by the government |
and the people. Unfortunately for the |
good people of both governments, they |
have suffered heretofore in reputation by |
reason Of the desperate, IN |
principled men who have crossed the |
border from either side of the Rio Grande,
to prey upon the property, defy the laws
and mock at the institutions and ira
ditions of the people. But the building |
of railways connecting the commercial |
of the two governments, and the !
encouragement and protection extended |
to American enterprise and capital by the |
Mexican government, is laying the |
foundation Of friendly relations between |
the people that will strengthen with each |
succeeding year. EDGAR RYE.